Tumble balance anchor shank



' P 1949- J. .1. KELLUM 2,468,077

'IUMBLE BALANCE ANCHOR SHANK Filed June 28, 1945 3mm JAMES J. KELLUM Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to ship anchors. Further, it relates to slotted shank anchors and specifically to a slotted shank, adapted to be applied to any type of ship anchor, in which (shank) the slot is positioned in a particular manner.

One object of the invention is to provide an anchor which may be readily released when hung on any obstruction on the sea bed.

It is with ease of recovery and ability to readily reset to which this invention is particularly drawn.

It is known in the art to provide slotted. shank anchors of various and sundry types and characteristics, but in most cases, these anchors, because of their design, fail to accomplish the purpose for which they are intended. In the em bodiment herein disclosed, the slot is so positioned in the shank that it is more effective in freeing the anchor when it has become hung on any obstruction.

In order to have a clearer understanding of one embodiment of the invention, reference is now made to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the anchor, partly broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view in elevation.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section along line 33 of Figure 1. It is partly in section and partly in elevation.

In Figure 1, [0 represents the shank of the anchor provided with longitudinal slot H. 12 represents the shackle or jews harp which is provided with shackle pin I3. The latter extends freely through slot l I. Near the head end of the shank in are abutments M which limit the throw of flukes l5 by means of bosses 16 which are integral parts of crown I! and flukes l5. Crown l1 and flukes l5 pivot around stock 18.

The throw of the fiukes or the angle between the median plane through the flukes and the horizontal plane through the axis of the shank is preferred by some to be in the order of 30. However, it is not desired to limit this invention to this 30 particular angle of swing as this invention is applicable to any anchor of any operable angle of swing.

In operation the anchor functions normally. But when it becomes hung on the bottom by overhanging ledges of rock or firmly embedded in the sea bed, this type of anchor, by reason of its slotted shank, is more easily freed from the holding material in the following manner. In the design of this anchor, and in particular of the anchor weighing approximately 3000 lbs., the slot extends in the shank from the shackle end to a point approximately three inches short of the center of gravity of the assembly. This distance also is the approximate width of the shackle pin slot II. The effect of this design is that in freeing the anchor from hun position, the ship is made to pass over the anchor in the direction opposite to that in which it was first set, and shackle I2 and shackle-pin l3 move in the slot to the end thereof toward the crown and flukes. A pull now exerted on the anchor cable exerts a component of force in the plane of the fluke on reverse course. This component of force disengages the flukes from the holding material.

By reason of the fact that the pull is exerted short of the center of gravity of the assembly when the anchor is freed, it may readily be weighed and recovered or reset in a new direction or pull.

Due to the fact that the pull is exerted short of the center of gravity of the assembly when the anchor is freed from its holding medium, it either swings around in a horizontal plane or tumbles vertically. In either case the fiukes, if the anchor is not Weighed, assume a position of immediate resetting in a new direction of pull if so applied.

After retraction of the anchor from its holding ground with the pull essentially vertical, the shackle moves in the slot to the shackle end of the shank and the assembly assumes normal position.

While the particular embodiment herein shown has been drawn to slotted shank anchors of the stock and pivoted double fluke type, the principle herein involved is applicable to all types of ship anchors and such application is included within the scope of the present invention.

The invention described herein may be used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A ship anchor adapted to be freed when hung in operation, comprising an assembly of a slotted the shank and through the shank parallel to the stock.

JAMES J. KELLUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 310,614 Protheroe Jan. 13, 1885 2,320,966 Danforth June 1, 1943 

